Pixel arrangement, manufacturing method thereof, display panel, display device and mask

ABSTRACT

A pixel arrangement includes a plurality of first groups of sub-pixels arranged in a first direction, each first group including first sub-pixels and third sub-pixels arranged alternately. A plurality of second groups of sub-pixels are arranged in the first direction, each second group including third sub-pixels and second sub-pixels arranged alternately. The first groups and the second groups are alternately arranged in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The first groups and the second groups are arranged to form a plurality of third group sub-pixels arranged in the second direction and a plurality of fourth groups arranged in the second direction, the third groups and the fourth groups being alternately arranged in the first direction. Each of the third groups includes first sub-pixels and third sub-pixels alternately arranged, and each of the fourth groups includes third sub-pixels and second sub-pixels alternately arranged.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 200810002739.4 filed on Jan. 2, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of display, and in particular, to a pixel arrangement, a method of manufacturing the pixel arrangement, a display panel, a display device, and a mask.

BACKGROUND

Compared with liquid crystal displays (LCDs), organic electroluminescent (OLED) displays have advantages such as low energy consumption, low production cost, self-illumination, wide viewing angle and fast responsiveness. Currently, in the field of flat panel displays such as mobile phones, PDAs, and digital cameras, OLED display devices have begun to replace traditional liquid crystal displays.

An OLED display typically includes a base substrate and sub-pixels arranged in a matrix on the base substrate. The sub-pixels are generally formed by evaporating an organic light-emitting material onto an array substrate using a fine metal mask (FMM).

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a pixel arrangement is provided, comprising: a plurality of first groups of sub-pixels arranged in a first direction, each of the plurality of first groups comprising a plurality of first sub-pixels and a plurality of third sub-pixels arranged alternately; and a plurality of second groups of sub-pixels arranged in the first direction, each of the plurality of second groups comprising a plurality of third sub-pixels and a plurality of second sub-pixels arranged alternately. The plurality of first groups and the plurality of second groups are alternately arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The plurality of first groups and the plurality of second groups are arranged to form a plurality of third groups of sub-pixels arranged in the second direction and a plurality of fourth groups of sub-pixels arranged in the second direction, the plurality of third groups and the plurality of fourth groups being alternately arranged in the first direction, each of the plurality of third groups comprising a plurality of first sub-pixels and a plurality of third sub-pixels alternately arranged, each of the plurality of fourth groups comprising a plurality of third sub-pixels and a plurality of second sub-pixels arranged alternately.

In some embodiments, the third groups of sub-pixels have substantially a same pattern as that of the first groups of sub-pixels, and the fourth groups of sub-pixels have substantially a same pattern as that of the second groups of sub-pixels.

In some embodiments, the plurality of third sub-pixels have substantially a same area.

In some embodiments, first ones of the third sub-pixels each have an area and second ones of the third sub-pixels each have another area different from that area.

In some embodiments, the third sub-pixels are arranged such that each of the first ones of the third sub-pixels has a first distance from a directly adjacent one of the first sub-pixels in one of the first direction and the second direction, and each of the second ones of the third sub-pixels has a second distance from a directly adjacent one of the first sub-pixels in the other of the first direction and the second direction, a ratio of the first distance to the second distance being in a range of 1 to 1.5. The third sub-pixels are arranged such that each of the first ones of the third sub-pixels has a third distance from a directly adjacent one of the second sub-pixels in one of the first direction and the second direction, and each of the second ones of the third sub-pixels has a fourth distance from a directly adjacent one of the second sub-pixels in the other of the first direction and the second direction, a ratio of the third distance to the fourth distance being in a range of 1 to 1.5.

In some embodiments, the first sub-pixels, the second sub-pixels, and the third sub-pixels are arranged substantially equidistantly with respect to each other.

In some embodiments, the third sub-pixels are arranged substantially equidistantly with respect to each other, and the first sub-pixels and the second sub-pixels are arranged substantially equidistantly with respect to each other.

In some embodiments, each of the third sub-pixels in the plurality of first groups of sub-pixels has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of a directly adjacent one of the first sub-pixels in the first direction, each of the third sub-pixels in the plurality of second groups of sub-pixels has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of a directly adjacent one of the second sub-pixels in the first direction, each of the third sub-pixels in the plurality of third groups of sub-pixels has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of a directly adjacent one of the first sub-pixels in the second direction, and each of the third sub-pixels in the plurality of fourth groups of sub-pixels has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of a directly adjacent one of the second sub-pixels in the second direction.

In some embodiments, the third sub-pixels have substantially a same shape.

In some embodiments, the shape is selected from a group consisting of a rectangle, an ellipse, a convex polygon, a concave polygon, a triangle, and a circle.

In some embodiments, the first sub-pixels have substantially a same area.

In some embodiments, first ones of the first sub-pixels each have an area and second ones of the first sub-pixels each have another area different from that area.

In some embodiments, the first sub-pixels have substantially a same shape.

In some embodiments, first ones of the first sub-pixels each have a shape and second ones of the first sub-pixels each have another shape different from that shape.

In some embodiments, the second sub-pixels have substantially a same area.

In some embodiments, first ones of the second sub-pixels each have an area and second ones of the second sub-pixels each have another area different from that area.

In some embodiments, the second sub-pixels have substantially a same shape.

In some embodiments, first ones of the second sub-pixels each have a shape and second ones of the second sub-pixels each have another shape different from that shape.

In some embodiments, the first sub-pixels are red sub-pixels, the second sub-pixels are blue sub-pixels, and the third sub-pixels are green sub-pixels.

In some embodiments, the first sub-pixels are blue sub-pixels, the second sub-pixels are red sub-pixels, and the third sub-pixels are green sub-pixels.

In some embodiments, the blue sub-pixels each have a first area, the red sub-pixels each have a second area smaller than the first area, and the green sub-pixels each have a third area smaller than the second area.

In some embodiments, the blue sub-pixels each have a first area, the green sub-pixels each have a second area smaller than the first area, and the red sub-pixels each have a third area smaller than the second area.

In some embodiments, the red sub-pixels have a first total area, the green sub-pixels have a second total area, and the blue sub-pixels have a third total area, and the first total area, the second total area, and the third total area have a ratio of 1:(1.1 to 1.5):(1.2 to 1.7), further 1:(1.2 to 1.35):(1.4 to 1.55), or further 1:1.27:1.46.

In some embodiments, the red sub-pixels, the green sub-pixels, and the blue sub-pixels have a ratio of approximately 1:2:1 in quantity.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a display panel is provided, comprising: a display substrate; and the pixel arrangement as described above, the pixel arrangement being formed on the display substrate. The pixel arrangement is arranged such that each of the first direction and the second direction intersects a length direction of the display substrate at approximately 45 degrees.

In some embodiments, the first sub-pixels, the second sub-pixels, and the third sub-pixels are organic electroluminescent sub-pixels.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a display device is provided, comprising the display panel as described above.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a set of masks for manufacturing the pixel arrangement as described above is provided, comprising: a first mask defining a plurality of first openings, the plurality of first openings arranged to have a pattern corresponding to a pattern of the first sub-pixels; a second mask defining a plurality of second openings, the plurality of second openings arranged to have a pattern corresponding to a pattern of the second sub-pixels; and a third mask defining a plurality of third openings, the plurality of third openings arranged to have a pattern corresponding to a pattern of the third sub-pixels.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of manufacturing a pixel arrangement using the set of masks as described above is provided, comprising: providing a display substrate; evaporating a first electroluminescent material, and depositing the evaporated first electroluminescent material onto the display substrate by passing the evaporated first electroluminescent material through the plurality of first openings of the first mask to form the first sub-pixels; evaporating a second electroluminescent material, and depositing the evaporated second electroluminescent material onto the display substrate by passing the evaporated second electroluminescent material through the plurality of second openings of the second mask to form the second sub-pixels; and evaporating a third electroluminescent material, and depositing the evaporated third electroluminescent material onto the display substrate by passing the evaporated third electroluminescent material through the plurality of third openings of the third mask to form the third sub-pixels.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a pixel arrangement is provided, comprising: five first sub-pixels located respectively at a central position and four vertex positions of a first virtual rectangle; four second sub-pixels located at respective central positions of four sides of the first virtual rectangle; and four third sub-pixels located in respective four second virtual rectangles, each of the second virtual rectangles being defined by a corresponding one of the four vertex positions of the first virtual rectangle, respective center positions of two adjacent sides of the four sides of the first virtual rectangle that contain the corresponding vertex position, and the center position of the first virtual rectangle, the four second virtual rectangles forming the first virtual rectangle.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a display panel is provided, comprising: a display substrate; and a plurality of adjoining pixel arrangements as described above, the pixel arrangements being formed on the display substrate. In a row direction every two directly adjacent ones of the first virtual rectangles have a common side such that the sub-pixels on the common side are shared by the two directly adjacent first virtual rectangles. In a column direction every two directly adjacent ones of the first virtual rectangles has a common side such that the sub-pixels on the common side are shared by the two directly adjacent first virtual rectangles.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a pixel arrangement is provided, comprising: a plurality of first repeating units arranged in a first direction, each of the plurality of first repeating units comprising a plurality of first sub-pixels and a plurality of third sub-pixels alternately arranged; and a plurality of second repeating units arranged in the first direction, each of the plurality of second repeating units comprising a plurality of third sub-pixels and a plurality of second sub-pixels alternately arranged. The plurality of first repeating units and the plurality of second repeating units are alternately arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The plurality of first repeating units and the plurality of second repeating units are arranged such that each of the first sub-pixels is directly adjacent to four of the third sub-pixels and each of the second sub-pixels is directly adjacent to four of the third sub-pixels.

These and other aspects of the present disclosure will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details, features and advantages of the present disclosure are disclosed in the following description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a pixel arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of the pixel arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of a variation of the pixel arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of another variation of the pixel arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of another variation of the pixel arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of another variation of the pixel arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of another variation of the pixel arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of another variation of the pixel arrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view generally showing a principle of color-borrowing of a pixel arrangement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are schematic plan views of a set of masks according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of a method of manufacturing a pixel arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the figures, different reference numerals, which are a combination of the same number and different letter suffixes, can be collectively referenced by the number.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “under”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” or “under” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary terms “below” and “under” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. Terms such as “before” or “preceding” and “after” or “followed by” may be similarly used, for example, to indicate an order in which light passes through the elements. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. In addition, it will also be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “between” two layers, it can be the only layer between the two layers, or one or more intervening layers may also be present.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on”, “connected to”, “coupled to”, or “adjacent to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected, coupled, or adjacent to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to”, “directly coupled to”, or “directly adjacent to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. In no event, however, should “on” or “directly on” be construed as requiring a layer to completely cover an underlying layer.

Embodiments of the disclosure are described herein with reference to schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the disclosure. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the disclosure should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. Accordingly, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and/or the present specification and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a pixel arrangement 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pixel arrangement 100 includes a plurality of first groups of sub-pixels (also referred to as “first repeating units”) G1 arranged in a first direction D1 and a plurality of second groups of sub-pixels (also referred to as “second repeating units”) G2 arranged in the first direction D1. The plurality of first groups G1 and the plurality of second groups G2 are alternately arranged in a second direction D2 perpendicular to the first direction D1.

Each of the plurality of first groups G1 includes a plurality of first sub-pixels 101 and a plurality of third sub-pixels 103 that are alternately arranged. Each of the plurality of second groups G2 includes a plurality of third sub-pixels 103 and a plurality of second sub-pixels 102 that are alternately arranged. The plurality of first groups G1 and the plurality of second groups G2 are further arranged to form a plurality of third groups of sub-pixels G3 arranged in the second direction D2 and a plurality of fourth groups of sub-pixels G4 arranged in the second direction D2. The plurality of third groups of sub-pixels G3 and the plurality of fourth groups of sub-pixels G4 are alternately arranged in the first direction D1. Each of the plurality of third groups G3 includes a plurality of first sub-pixels 101 and a plurality of third sub-pixels 103 alternately arranged, and each of the plurality of fourth groups G4 includes a plurality of third sub-pixels 103 and a plurality of second sub-pixels 102 arranged alternately. As shown in FIG. 1, each of the first sub-pixels 101 is directly adjacent to four third sub-pixels 103, and each of the second sub-pixels 102 is also directly adjacent to four third sub-pixels 103.

Compared with existing pixel arrangements, the pixel arrangement 100 may allow the first sub-pixels 101, the second sub-pixels 102, and the third sub-pixels 103 to be more closely arranged under the same process conditions, thereby increasing the area of individual sub-pixels as much as possible. This, in turn, facilitates a reduced drive current of the display element and hence an increased lifetime of the display element.

In this embodiment, the third group of sub-pixels G3 has the same pattern as the first group of sub-pixels G1, and the fourth group of sub-pixels G4 has the same pattern as the second group of sub-pixels G2. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the third group of sub-pixels G3 will coincide with the first group of sub-pixels G1 if rotated (clockwise or counterclockwise) by 90 degrees, and the fourth group of sub-pixels G4 will coincide with the second group of sub-pixels G2 if rotated (clockwise or counterclockwise) by 90 degrees. This provides an even distribution of the sub-pixels, facilitating the improvement of the display effect.

In the example of FIG. 1, the first, second, and third sub-pixels 101, 102, and 103 are disposed substantially equidistantly with respect to each other. In some variations, the third sub-pixels 103 may be arranged differently. For example, the third sub-pixels 103 may be arranged substantially equidistantly with respect to each other, and the first sub-pixels 101 and the second sub-pixels 102 are arranged substantially equidistantly with respect to each other. It will be understood that in this document the term “substantially” used in connection with “equidistant”, “parallel”, “same”, “equal to”, etc., is intended to encompass deviations as a result of manufacturing processes.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of the pixel arrangement 100 of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of first sub-pixels 101 have substantially the same shape and area, the plurality of second sub-pixels 102 have substantially the same shape and area, and the plurality of third sub-pixels 103 have substantially the same shape and area. In this example, the four third sub-pixels 103 as a whole are horizontally symmetrical and also vertically symmetrical. This provides uniform light emission.

In alternative embodiments, some of the third sub-pixels 103 may have a different shape and/or area than that of the rest of the third sub-pixels 103, as will be described later. Additionally, each of the third sub-pixels 103 may be oriented at an angle different from the angle shown.

It will be understood that the distance between each third sub-pixel 103 and the directly adjacent first sub-pixel 101 and the distance between the third sub-pixel 103 and the directly adjacent second sub-pixel 102 must be greater than or equal to the process limit distance to meet the process requirements. Here, the distance between two sub-pixels is defined as the shortest one of the distances between points of one of the two sub-pixels and points of the other of the two sub-pixels. The process limit distance depends on the manufacturing process used. In embodiments in which a fine metal mask (FMM) is used in connection with etching, the minimum spacing is about 16 μm. In embodiments in which laser or electroforming, etc., is employed, the minimum spacing could be even smaller.

FIG. 2 further shows a large rectangle (hereinafter referred to as “first virtual rectangle”) defined by broken lines connecting the first sub-pixels 101 at four corners. The first virtual rectangle includes four small rectangles (hereinafter referred to as “second virtual rectangles”), each of which is defined by a corresponding one of the four vertex positions of the first virtual rectangle, respective center positions of two adjacent sides of the four sides of the first virtual rectangle that contain the corresponding vertex position, and a center position of the first virtual rectangle. The pixel arrangement of FIG. 2 is described below with reference to the first virtual rectangle and the second virtual rectangle.

The pixel arrangement includes five first sub-pixels 101 respectively located at the central position and the four vertex positions of the first virtual rectangle, four second sub-pixels 102 located at respective central positions of the four sides of the first virtual rectangle, and four third sub-pixels 103 located within the respective four second virtual rectangles. It will be understood that the phrase “a sub-pixel located at a position” means that the sub-pixel overlaps the position without necessarily requiring the center of the sub-pixel to overlap the position. The center of the sub-pixel may be the geometric center of the sub-pixel or the center of the light-emitting zone of the sub-pixel.

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial area of a variation of the pixel arrangement 100 of FIG. 1.

In this embodiment, first ones of the third sub-pixels 103 each have an area and second ones of the third sub-pixels 103 each have another area different than that area. As shown in FIG. 3, the third sub-pixels 103A and 103C each have an area different from that of the third sub-pixel 103B or 103D. In this example, the third sub-pixels 103A and 103C further have shapes different from the shapes of the third sub-pixels 103B and 103D. Specifically, the third sub-pixels 103A and 103C are squares, and the third sub-pixels 103B and 103D are non-square rectangles. This provides a flexible design of the pixel pattern. Herein, the third sub-pixels 103A, 103B, 103C, and 103D may also be referred to as having the same type of shape in that their shapes are all rectangular (although having different aspect ratios). In this sense, for example, acute triangles and obtuse triangles are considered to be the same type of shape because they are all triangles.

In this embodiment, the third sub-pixels 103 are arranged such that each of first ones of the third sub-pixels 103 has a first distance d1 from a directly adjacent one of the first sub-pixels 101 in one of the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, and each of second ones of the third sub-pixels 103 has a second distance d2 from a directly adjacent one of the first sub-pixels 101 in the other of the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. As shown in FIG. 3, the third sub-pixel 103A has the first distance d1 from the directly adjacent first sub-pixel 101A in the second direction D2, and the third sub-pixel 103B has the second distance d2 from the directly adjacent first sub-pixel 101A in the first direction D1. The ratio of the first distance d1 to the second distance d2 is in the range of 1 to 1.5, such as 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, etc. Such a configuration takes into account both the area of the sub-pixels and the limit distance that the process can achieve, enabling a flexible design of the pixel pattern.

In this embodiment, the third sub-pixels 103 are arranged such that each of first ones of the third sub-pixels 103 has a third distance d3 from a directly adjacent one of the second sub-pixels 102 in one of the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, and each of second ones of the third sub-pixels 103 has a fourth distance d4 from a directly adjacent one of the second sub-pixels 102 in the other of the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. As shown in FIG. 3, the third sub-pixel 103D has the third distance d3 from the directly adjacent second sub-pixel 102A in the second direction D2, and the third sub-pixel 103C has the fourth distance d4 from the directly adjacent second sub-pixel 102A in first direction D1. The ratio of the third distance d3 to the fourth distance d4 is in the range of 1 to 1.5, such as 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, etc. Such a configuration takes into account both the area of the sub-pixels and the limit distance that the process can achieve, enabling a flexible design of the pixel pattern.

In alternative embodiments, the third sub-pixels 103A, 103B, 103C, and 103D may also have substantially the same area (but different shapes). For example, the third sub-pixels 103A and 103C may have a different aspect ratio from, but still substantially the same area as the third sub-pixels 103B and 103D.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of another variation of the pixel arrangement 100 of FIG. 1.

An exemplary variation in the shape of the second sub-pixel 102 and the third sub-pixel 103 is shown in FIG. 4. In this example, the second sub-pixels 102 have substantially the same shape of a convex polygon, and the third sub-pixels 103 have substantially the same shape of a concave polygon.

In this embodiment, each of the third sub-pixels 103 in the plurality of first groups of sub-pixels G1 has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of a directly adjacent one of the first sub-pixels 101 in the first direction D1. As shown in FIG. 4, the third sub-pixel 103B has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of the directly adjacent first side pixel 101A in the first direction D1.

In this embodiment, each of the third sub-pixels 103 in the plurality of second groups of sub-pixels G2 has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of a directly adjacent one of the second sub-pixels 102 in the first direction D1. As shown in FIG. 4, the third sub-pixel 103A has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of the directly adjacent second sub-pixel 102A in the first direction D1.

In this embodiment, each of the third sub-pixels 103 in the plurality of third groups of sub-pixels G3 has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of a directly adjacent one of the first sub-pixels 101 in the second direction D2. As shown in FIG. 4, the third sub-pixel 103A has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of the directly adjacent first sub-pixel 101A in the second direction D2.

In this embodiment, each of the third sub-pixels 103 in the plurality of fourth groups of sub-pixels G4 has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of a directly adjacent one of the second sub-pixels 102 in the second direction D2. As shown in FIG. 4, the third sub-pixel 103A has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of the directly adjacent second sub-pixel 102A in the second direction D2.

Such a configuration provides a uniform width of a gap between a third sub-pixel 103 and a directly adjacent first sub-pixel 101 and a uniform width of a gap between the third sub-pixel 103 and a directly adjacent second sub-pixel 102, which is advantageous for providing a desired display effect. In some embodiments, a pitch between the third sub-pixel 103 and the directly adjacent first sub-pixel 101 is substantially equal to a pitch between the third sub-pixel 103 and the directly adjacent second sub-pixel 102. In some embodiments, the pitches between any two directly adjacent first sub-pixels 101 and second sub-pixels 102 are substantially equal. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and other alternative embodiments are possible.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of another variation of the pixel arrangement 100 of FIG. 1.

A variation in the shape and area of the third sub-pixel 103 is shown in FIG. 5. Specifically, the third sub-pixels 103A, 103B, 103C, and 103D have substantially the same shape of a convex polygon, and the third sub-pixels 103A and 103C have an area larger than the area of the third sub-pixels 103B and 103D. This provides a flexible design of the pixel pattern.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of another variation of the pixel arrangement 100 of FIG. 1.

A variation in the shape of the first sub-pixel 101, a variation in the shape of the second sub-pixel 102, and a variation in the shape and area of the third sub-pixel 103 are shown in FIG. 6. In this example, the first sub-pixels 101 have substantially the same regular hexagonal shape, the second sub-pixels 102 have substantially the same regular octagonal shape, and the third sub-pixels 103A, 103B, 103C, and 103D have substantially the same elliptical shape, with the third sub-pixel 103D having an area larger than the area of any of the third sub-pixels 103A, 103B, and 103C. This configuration provides a flexible design of the pixel pattern.

In an alternative embodiment, the third sub-pixels 103A, 103B, 103C, and 103D may each have a different ratio of major axis to minor axis. That is, the third sub-pixels 103A, 103B, 103C, and 103D may have different specific shapes, although they are all elliptical. FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of another variation of the pixel arrangement of FIG. 1.

A variation in the shape of the first sub-pixel 101, a variation in the shape of the second sub-pixel 102, and a variation in the shape and area of the third sub-pixel 103 are shown in FIG. 7. In this example, the first sub-pixels 101 have substantially the same regular hexagonal shape, the second sub-pixels 102 have substantially the same regular octagonal shape, and the third sub-pixels 103A, 103B, 103C, and 103D each have a rectangular shape, with the third sub-pixel 103B having an area larger than the area of any one of the third sub-pixels 103A, 103C, and 103D. This configuration provides a flexible design of the pixel pattern.

In alternative embodiments, the third sub-pixels 103A, 103B, 103C, and 103D may each have a different aspect ratio. That is, the third sub-pixels 103A, 103B, 103C, and 103D may have different specific shapes, although they are all rectangular.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of a partial area of another variation of the pixel arrangement of FIG. 1, in which variations in the shape and area of the first sub-pixel 101, the second sub-pixel 102, and the third sub-pixel 103 are shown.

In this embodiment, first ones of the first sub-pixels 101 each have an area and second ones of the first sub-pixels 101 each have another area different from that area, and first ones of the first sub-pixels 101 each have a shape and second ones of the first sub-pixels 101 has another shape different from that shape. As shown in FIG. 8, the first sub-pixels 101A, 101B, 101C, 101D, and 101E each have a different area, wherein the first sub-pixels 101A, 101B, and 101D each have a square shape, and the first sub-pixels 101C and 101E each have a shape of a non-square rectangle.

In this embodiment, first ones of the second sub-pixels 102 each have an area and second ones of the second sub-pixels 102 each have another area different from that area, and first ones of the second sub-pixels 102 each have a shape and second ones of the second sub-pixels 102 each have another shape different from that shape. As shown in FIG. 8, the second sub-pixels 102B and 102D are circular and have an area larger than the area of the second sub-pixels 102A and 102C which are regular octagons.

In this embodiment, the third sub-pixels 103A, 103B, 103C, and 103D have substantially the same concave polygon shape but different areas, with the third sub-pixel 103A being the largest and the third sub-pixel 103D the smallest.

Although various variations of the first sub-pixel 101, the second sub-pixel 102, and the third sub-pixel 103 are described above in connection with FIGS. 1-8, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the first sub-pixel 101, the second sub-pixel 102, and the third sub-pixel 103 may have a shape selected from a group consisting of a rectangle, an ellipse, a convex polygon, a concave polygon, a triangle, and a circle. Other irregular shapes are also possible. In practice, the shape, orientation, and relative position of the first sub-pixel 101, the second sub-pixel 102, and the third sub-pixel 103 can be designed as needed.

In the embodiments described above, the third sub-pixel 103 may be a green sub-pixel. In some embodiments, the first sub-pixel 101 may be a red sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel 102 may be a blue sub-pixel. Alternatively, the first sub-pixel 101 may be a blue sub-pixel, and the second sub-pixel 102 may be a red sub-pixel. Since the human eye is more sensitive to green light, the area of the third sub-pixel 103 can be relatively small. In some embodiments, the area of the green sub-pixel is smaller than the area of the red sub-pixel, and the area of the red sub-pixel is smaller than the area of the blue sub-pixel. Alternatively, the area of the red sub-pixel is smaller than the area of the green sub-pixel, and the area of the green sub-pixel is smaller than the area of the blue sub-pixel. The red sub-pixels have a first total area, the green sub-pixels have a second total area, and the blue sub-pixels have a third total area. In some embodiments, the first total area, the second total area, and the third total area have a ratio of 1:(1.1 to 1.5):(1.2 to 1.7), further 1:(1.2 to 1.35):(1.4 to 1.55), or further, 1:1.27:1.46. This provides different levels of visual quality improvement compared to pixel patterns in which the red, green, and blue sub-pixels have the same total area. In some embodiments, the red sub-pixels, the green sub-pixels, and the blue sub-pixels have a ratio of approximately 1:2:1 in quantity. This can be achieved by sufficiently extending the pattern of the pixel arrangement in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. The term “approximately” is intended to cover a certain range of error, such as ±10% (of the number of the red or blue sub-pixels). For example, 1:1.9:1 can be considered to be “approximately 1:2:1”.

FIG. 9 generally illustrates the principle of color-borrowing of a pixel arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In this example, the first sub-pixels 101 are red sub-pixels, the second sub-pixels 102 are blue sub-pixels, and the third sub-pixels 103 are green sub-pixels. As shown in FIG. 9, the green sub-pixel the red sub-pixel R, and the blue sub-pixel B located at the vertices of each of the broken-line triangles form a virtual pixel. Advantageously, directly adjacent broken-line triangles always share a common sub-pixel. This provides a higher virtual resolution than the physical resolution, which improves the display effect. Furthermore, as described above, the first sub-pixels 101, the second sub-pixels 102, and the third sub-pixels 103 are allowed to be arranged more closely, thereby providing a larger area per sub-pixel than the existing pixel arrangements.

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of a display device 1000 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 10, the display device 1000 includes a display panel 1010, a scan driver 1020, a data driver 1030, and a timing controller 1040.

The display panel 1010 includes a display substrate 1012 and a pixel arrangement 1014 formed on the display substrate 1012. The pixel arrangement 1014 may take the form of any of the pixel arrangement 100 and its variations described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 9.

The pixel arrangement 1014 is arranged such that each of the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 (according to which the configurations of the pixel arrangement 100 and its various modifications have been described) intersects a length direction D3 of the display substrate 1012 at approximately 45 degrees. The term “approximately” is intended to cover a certain range of error, such as ±10%. For example, 40.5 degrees is considered to be “approximately 45 degrees.” The sub-pixels in the pixel arrangement 1014 may be organic electroluminescence sub-pixels, although the disclosure is not limited thereto.

From the perspective of the first virtual matrix, the pixel arrangement 1014 includes a plurality of adjoining first virtual matrices. In the row direction (the horizontal direction in FIG. 10), every two directly adjacent ones of the first virtual rectangles have a common side such that the sub-pixels on the common side are shared by the two directly adjacent first virtual rectangles. In the column direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 10), every two directly adjacent ones of the first virtual rectangles have a common side such that the sub-pixels on the common side are shared by the two directly adjacent first virtual rectangles.

The scan driver 1020 outputs gate scan signals to the display panel 1010. In some exemplary embodiments, the scan driver 1020 may be directly integrated in the display substrate 1012 as a gate driver on array (GOA) circuit. Alternatively, the scan driver 1020 may be connected to the display panel 1010 by a Tape Carrier Package (TCP). The implementation of the scan driver 1020 may be known, a detailed description of which is thus omitted.

The data driver 1030 outputs data voltages to the display panel 1010. In some embodiments, the data driver 1030 may include a plurality of data driver chips which operate in parallel. The implementation of the data driver 1030 may be known, a detailed description of which is thus omitted.

The timing controller 1040 controls the operations of the scan driver 1020 and the data driver 1030. Specifically, the timing controller 1040 outputs data control signals and image data to control the driving operation of the data driver 1030, and outputs gate control signals to control the driving operation of the scan driver 1020. The data control signals and image data are applied to the data driver 1030. The gate control signals are applied to the scan driver 1020. The implementation of the timing controller 1040 may be known, and a detailed description of which is thus omitted.

The display device 1000 has the same advantages as those of the pixel arrangement embodiments described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 9, which will not be repeated herein. By way of example and not limitation, the display device 1000 can be any product or component having a display function, such as a cell phone, a tablet, a television, a display, a notebook computer, a digital photo frame, a navigator, and the like.

FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are schematic plan views of a set of masks in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The group of masks includes a first mask 1100A, a second mask 1100B, and a third mask 1100C.

Referring to FIG. 11A, only a portion of the first mask 1100A is shown. The first mask 1100A defines a plurality of first openings 1112. The plurality of first openings 1112 are arranged to have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first sub-pixels of any one of the pixel arrangement 100 or its variations described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 9. In this example, the plurality of first openings 1112 are arranged to have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the first sub-pixels of the pixel arrangement 100 of FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the mask 1100A is a fine metal mask that can be used in an evaporation process to form a desired pixel pattern.

Referring to FIG. 11B, only a portion of the second mask 1100B is shown. The second mask 1100B defines a plurality of second openings 1114. The plurality of second openings 1114 are arranged to have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the second sub-pixels of any one of the pixel arrangement 100 or its variations described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 9. In this example, the plurality of second openings 1114 are arranged to have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the second sub-pixels of the pixel arrangement 100 of FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the mask 1100B is a fine metal mask that can be used in an evaporation process to form a desired pixel pattern.

Referring to FIG. 11C, only a portion of the third mask 1100C is shown. The third mask 1100C defines a plurality of third openings 1116. The plurality of third openings 1116 are arranged to have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the third sub-pixels of any one of the pixel arrangement 100 or its variations described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 9. In this example, the plurality of third openings 1116 are arranged to have a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the third sub-pixels of the pixel arrangement 100 of FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the mask 1100C is a fine metal mask that can be used in an evaporation process to form a desired pixel pattern.

The masks 1100A, 1100B, and 1100C may provide the same advantages as those of the pixel arrangement embodiments described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 9, which are not repeated herein.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram of a method 1200 of manufacturing a pixel arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the pixel arrangement described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 9 can be implemented using the method 1200 and the masks 1100A, 1100B, and 1100C.

Referring to FIG. 12, at step 1210, a display substrate is provided. The display substrate is typically a back plate that has been provided with driving circuits formed of, for example, thin film transistors (TFTs). At step 1220, a first electroluminescent material is evaporated and passes through the plurality of first openings 1112 of the first mask 1100A, with the evaporated first electroluminescent material deposited onto the display substrate to form the first sub-pixels 101. At step 1230, a second electroluminescent material is evaporated and passes through the plurality of second openings 1114 of the second mask 1100B, with the evaporated second electroluminescent material deposited onto the display substrate to form the second sub-pixels 102. At step 1240, the third electroluminescent material is evaporated and passes through the plurality of third openings 1116 of the third mask 1100C, with the evaporated third electroluminescent material deposited onto the display substrate to form the third sub-pixels 103. Steps 1220 to 1240 are generally referred to as evaporation, by which the pixel pattern will be formed at predetermined positions on the display substrate. It will be understood that steps 1220 to 1240 can be performed in an order different from that illustrated and described. In some embodiments, the electroluminescent materials may be organic electroluminescent materials. Other electroluminescent materials are possible.

Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. Although the various operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be construed as requiring that the operations be performed in the particular order shown or in a sequential order, nor should it be construed as requiring all of the operations shown to be performed to achieve the desired result. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that the measures cannot be used to advantage. 

1. A pixel arrangement comprising: a plurality of first groups of sub-pixels arranged in a first direction, each of the plurality of first groups comprising a plurality of first sub-pixels and a first plurality of third sub-pixels arranged alternately; and a plurality of second groups of sub-pixels arranged in the first direction, each of the plurality of second groups comprising a second plurality of third sub-pixels and a plurality of second sub-pixels arranged alternately, wherein the plurality of first groups and the plurality of second groups are alternately arranged in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the plurality of first groups and the plurality of second groups are arranged to form a plurality of third groups of sub-pixels arranged in the second direction and a plurality of fourth groups of sub-pixels arranged in the second direction, wherein the plurality of third groups and the plurality of fourth groups being are alternately arranged in the first direction, wherein each of the plurality of third groups comprise a plurality of first sub-pixels and a third plurality of third sub-pixels arranged alternately, wherein each of the plurality of fourth groups comprise a fourth plurality of third sub-pixels and a plurality of second sub-pixels arranged alternately.
 2. The pixel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the plurality of third groups of sub-pixels have substantially a same pattern as that of the plurality of first groups of sub-pixels, and wherein the plurality of fourth groups of sub-pixels have substantially a same pattern as that of the plurality of second groups of sub-pixels.
 3. The pixel arrangement of claim 1, wherein ones of the first plurality of third sub-pixels have substantially a same area.
 4. The pixel arrangement of claim 1, wherein ones of the first plurality of third sub-pixels have an area and ones of the second plurality of third sub-pixels have another area different from the area.
 5. The pixel arrangement of claim 4, wherein each of the ones of the first plurality of third sub-pixels has a first distance from a directly adjacent first one of the first sub-pixels in one of the first direction and the second direction, and each of the ones of the second plurality of third sub-pixels has a second distance from a directly adjacent second one of the first sub-pixels in another of the first direction and the second direction, wherein a ratio of the first distance to the second distance is in a range of 1 to 1.5, wherein each of the ones of the first plurality of third sub-pixels has a third distance from a directly adjacent first one of the second sub-pixels in one of the first direction and the second direction, and each of the ones of the second plurality of third sub-pixels has a fourth distance from a directly adjacent second one of the second sub-pixels in another of the first direction and the second direction, and wherein a ratio of the third distance to the fourth distance is in a range of 1 to 1.5.
 6. The pixel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first sub-pixels, the second sub-pixels, and at least one of the first, second, third, or fourth plurality of third sub-pixels are arranged substantially equidistantly with respect to each other.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The pixel arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of third groups of sub-pixels in the plurality of first groups of sub-pixels has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of a directly adjacent one of the first sub-pixels in the first direction, wherein each of the second plurality of third sub-pixels in the plurality of second groups of sub-pixels has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of a directly adjacent one of the second sub-pixels in the first direction, wherein each of the plurality of third sub-pixels in the plurality of third groups of sub-pixels has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of a directly adjacent one of the first sub-pixels in the second direction, and wherein each of the fourth plurality of third sub-pixels in the plurality of fourth groups of sub-pixels has a side substantially parallel and opposite to a side of a directly adjacent one of the second sub-pixels in the second direction.
 9. The pixel arrangement of claim 1, wherein ones of the first, second, third, or fourth plurality of the third sub-pixels have substantially a same shape.
 10. (canceled)
 11. (canceled)
 12. The pixel arrangement of claim 1, wherein first ones of the first sub-pixels each have an area and second ones of the first sub-pixels each have another area different from the area.
 13. (canceled)
 14. The pixel arrangement of claim 1, wherein first ones of the first sub-pixels each have a shape and second ones of the first sub-pixels each have another shape different from the shape.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The pixel arrangement of claim 1, wherein first ones of the second sub-pixels each have an area and second ones of the second sub-pixels each have another area different from the area.
 17. (canceled)
 18. The pixel arrangement of claim 1, wherein first ones of the second sub-pixels each have a shape and second ones of the second sub-pixels each have another shape different from the shape.
 19. The pixel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first sub-pixels comprise red sub-pixels, wherein the second sub-pixels comprise blue sub-pixels, and wherein the third sub-pixels comprise green sub-pixels.
 20. The pixel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first sub-pixels comprise blue sub-pixels, wherein the second sub-pixels comprise red sub-pixels, and wherein the third sub-pixels comprise green sub-pixels.
 21. (canceled)
 22. (canceled)
 23. The pixel arrangement of claim 19 or 20, wherein the red sub-pixels have a first total area, the green sub-pixels have a second total area, and the blue sub-pixels have a third total area, and wherein the first total area, the second total area, and the third total area have a ratio of 1:(1.1 to 1.5):(1.2 to 1.7), further 1:(1.2 to 1.35):(1.4 to 1.55), or further 1:1.27:1.46.
 24. The pixel arrangement of claim 19, wherein the red sub-pixels, the green sub-pixels, and the blue sub-pixels have a ratio of approximately 1:2:1 in quantity.
 25. A display panel comprising: a display substrate; and the pixel arrangement of claim 1, wherein the pixel arrangement is on the display substrate, and wherein the pixel arrangement is arranged such that each of the first direction and the second direction intersects a length direction of the display substrate at approximately 45 degrees.
 26. (canceled)
 27. A display device comprising the display panel of claim
 25. 28. A set of masks for manufacturing the pixel arrangement of claim 1, comprising: a first mask defining a plurality of first openings, the plurality of first openings arranged to have a pattern corresponding to a pattern of the plurality of first sub-pixels; a second mask defining a plurality of second openings, the plurality of second openings arranged to have a pattern corresponding to a pattern of the plurality second sub-pixels; and a third mask defining a plurality of third openings, the plurality of third openings arranged to have a pattern corresponding to a pattern of the first, second, third, or fourth plurality of third sub-pixels.
 29. A method of manufacturing a pixel arrangement using the set of masks of claim 28, comprising: providing a display substrate; evaporating a first electroluminescent material, and depositing the first electroluminescent material that was evaporated onto the display substrate by passing the evaporated first electroluminescent material through the plurality of first openings of the first mask to form the plurality of first sub-pixels; evaporating a second electroluminescent material, and depositing the second electroluminescent material that was evaporated onto the display substrate by passing the evaporated second electroluminescent material through the plurality of second openings of the second mask to form the plurality of second sub-pixels; and evaporating a third electroluminescent material, and depositing the third electroluminescent material that was evaporated onto the display substrate by passing the evaporated third electroluminescent material through the plurality of third openings of the third mask to form the first, second, third, or fourth plurality of third sub-pixels. 30.-40. (canceled) 